Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

Rather than asking whether it is an evil spirit, the words seem to confirm it.

I tried to protest, but the Marquis did not give me the chance.

“Of course, you can’t say anything like you’re acknowledging it here. You might wonder if it’s a trap. So just listen until I finish.”

“….”

“No matter what you say, I think you are an evil spirit.”

“….”

“So even when you became a noble, you cleaned things up so that no one would know. “If it becomes known that a hero like you is an evil spirit, there will be disharmony in the public’s perception.”

This was a topic I also discussed with Amelia the other day.

Why was I able to become a nobleman without ‘verification’?

[It may be that the royal family knew and tolerated this. Because at that time, you were nothing short of a hero in the city.]

…I guess this was really the reason.

“Evil spirits should always be the main enemies of all residents, and they are. “They take our lives away and are more fearful than any monster in the labyrinth.”

There was deep, invisible anger in the Marquis’ voice as he said that.

“I was happy inside when I found out you had died in the Labyrinth. “It was the best situation for me to lead this country if he disappeared without being revealed that he was an evil spirit.”

From here on, it was something I knew well.

The best situation that the Marquis spoke of soon turned out to be wrong.

“But one guy got in the way. You probably know him too. “He’s a shameless guy named Lee Baek-ho.”

The Marquis was threatened by Lee Baek-ho and had to announce that Bjorn Yandel was an ‘evil spirit’, and after that, the policy of incorporating evil spirits had to be put on the chopping block.

Well, since it is such a big policy, it has not been implemented yet.

“He opened my most painful wound.”

“…painful wound?”

“My son… Eltora Terserion is already dead. “The one occupying my son’s body right now is an evil spirit whose name I don’t know.”

“…!”

I was truly surprised.

Not because it was my first time hearing this, but because I never thought I would be honest about this.

“Looking at that reaction, it seems like you really didn’t know.”

“Uh… I didn’t expect that.”

“Anyway, he threatened me with my son’s identity. “I couldn’t deal with my son right away, so I had no choice but to comply with the threat.”

So what does the Marquis want to say now?

Because I didn’t know, I continued to listen to the story.

That’s not all I knew.

“The policy of incorporating evil spirits should never be implemented. Even if it was not their intention to become evil spirits, if we accept them… who can relieve the sorrow of those whose bodies were taken?”

In today’s conversation, I felt like I was seeing the Marquis’s inner self for the first time.

“That’s why I was able to come up with an excuse right away when you disappeared and came back. “Paradoxically enough, you shouldn’t have been an evil spirit in order to stop his plan.”

“…You were preparing in advance.”

“I see. You created and recorded fake information behind the scenes to make it look like your undercover mission was real when it wasn’t. “We made every preparation so that no one would be able to tell that it was fake.”

Now the question is resolved.

For some reason, even though this was just a hastily created setup, even big figures like the Duke of Kealunus seemed to believe it without question.

I never would have guessed that this was a thoroughly prepared plan during the time I was gone.

“Of course, I originally planned to announce that you died during the mission when the time came, but when you came back alive, this plan was also canceled.”

Now I fully understand the Marquis’ intentions, and both my fists are clenched.

“Is that why you sent us to Ice Rock?”

The Marquis indeed readily agreed without any change in expression.

“There is no reason to try to cover the sky with your palms now. That’s right. So I sent it. “At that time, I thought there wouldn’t be any problem if you died before you got your name back.”

How can someone be so shameless?

Regardless of the honest talk we shared earlier, I feel like punching myself in the face right here.

But…

‘Because I decided to endure it.’

Didn’t you swear that day on the cold ice?

Now is not the time to vent your anger.

Yeah, I mean.

“So… now tell me. “What is your reason for saying this?”

I asked the Marquis while keeping my composure as much as possible.

It’s not like the country’s second-in-command is an asshole, and there’s no way he’ll become emotional just because he saved him once.

Of course, saving someone’s life won’t have any impact…

but there must be a good reason for saying this…

“Because it’s confusing.”

…huh?

“Because there is absolutely no reason for you to save me. “Aren’t you the type of person who actually wants me to die when I die?”

Well, that’s definitely true.

But…

“Why did you throw yourself to save me? I didn’t understand it at all. But when I thought about it, I realized I wasn’t the only one.”

The Marquis looks at me and continues speaking.

“You have saved so many people. But there was no reason for you to save those people. Thanks to you, I was able to come to a conclusion. “No, I was finally able to admit it.”

“What was it…?”

“Even though you are an evil spirit, you are a person with heroic qualities.”

A hero…

To be honest, even if I say it that way, it doesn’t really feel real.

Because I was just struggling to survive.

With the people around me.

“Evil spirit or not, you are someone who will have a beneficial influence on this world.”

Anyway, that’s my impression anyway.

Intuitively, I knew that what was to come next was the main point.

“So, I have a proposition for you.”

Soon the Marquis speaks to me with shining eyes.

“Stand by our side. And become a true resident of this world and use your power to maintain balance and peace.”

Is it okay to say it in such a powerful and passionate voice after steadily building up the build-up?

The Marquis’ words had the power to lead people.

But I know.

The more powerful a person is, the more alert he or she must be.

‘Oh, I almost passed over without realizing it.’

There are two types of people in the world.

When hearing a ‘proposal’, there are those who only think about the good points of the proposal and turn on the hope circuit, and the opposite.

I am someone who always wants to be the latter.

Therefore…

“That’s a strange thing to say, asking me to use my strength. “I’m still doing that enough.”

He gives vague answers and asks the Marquis to open more cards.

“Why don’t you stop talking about things you don’t understand, like evil spirits and all, and just say it honestly if you want something?”

The Marquis was not embarrassed by my request.

He just smiled and continued calmly, as if he knew this would happen.

“Hehe, of course it’s not like I don’t have something to wish for.”

“Then tell me.”

“Even if you take my hand now, there’s no evidence to trust you, right? “I need proof.”

I heard at one point they concluded that it was a good evil spirit.

He must be a man who is free to just flip his hands up and down.

“Lee Baek-ho.”

The air suddenly becomes cold.

“Kill him who only wants to upset the balance of this world.”

Yes, this was the real purpose.

“Then I guess I can trust you completely.”

As expected, it is different.

There’s no way this guy would do that just because he saved me once.

***

After a moment of silence.

The Marquis added as if to persuade me.

“If you feel uncomfortable, just think of it as a transaction. “If you take care of Lee Baek-ho, I will become your strong guardian while you live in this world.”

Well, if it really turns out as it says, it will be reassuring.

Because the Marquis has the power to ignore me even if I shout out with my own mouth that I am an evil spirit in the middle of the city.

But that makes it even more questionable.

There is no need to say why the Marquis wants to kill Lee Baek-ho, so leave it aside.

“Why are you trying to make me do that?”

Why does the Marquis want to entrust this task to me instead of handling it himself?

“Because you are the only one who can do that.”

The Marquis’s reply was unexpected.

“To be honest, I’ve already tried countless times and they’ve all failed. It wasn’t easy for us to even meet him. But… it might be different for you. “For some reason, he was very interested in you.”

“….”

“Of course, you don’t have to decide right here, and you don’t have to tell me that you have decided. Just remember. “The moment you cut off his head, you won’t have to worry about anything.”

“….”

“Please make the right choice. Don’t you love this world? Unlike other evil spirits.”

With those words, the Marquis sipped his cooled tea as if he had said all he wanted to say, and the conversation entered a lull for a moment.

The Marquis just spent his time leisurely and never spoke up first, and the more he did that, the more complicated my mind became.

What should I answer?

Or should I ask something else?

That doesn’t matter.

No matter what answer I give, the Marquis’s thoughts won’t change, and no matter what question I hear, I won’t be able to trust it 100%.

Just like I did with the director of the research center I met on the first basement floor.

[The only way to get truth through others is to believe. Therefore, it would be a waste of time for me to continue talking to you for a long time.]

[That is why I said it was a deal. Does it matter who I am? You just have to look at it and make your decision whether to accept my offer or not.] What is

always important is your own judgment.

‘But I just asked you to know…’

I think you can just think of it as a side quest.

There’s no problem even if you don’t wake up, right?

“I will consider your offer. “Of course, I’m not an evil spirit or anything.”

When I broke the long silence and spoke, the Marquis nodded with a face without any regrets.

“Do whatever you want. But now that the repayment is over, I feel at ease.”

“…What do you mean? “I just meant to think about it.”

“It’s because I’m the type of person who can’t sleep well if I’m not sure about my blessings.”

“Ah, you mean the construction of District 7—.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

Soon the Marquis shrugged his shoulders and continued.

“Suggesting the right path. “This was my reward for saving me.”

“….”

“I don’t know if you will believe it or not.”

I heard you really have a knack for making people feel uncomfortable until the very end.

“…I’ll just go.”

“How about having a meal? “I feel uncomfortable letting it go like this.”

“I’m not very hungry today.”

I felt like my head would explode if I ate together with the Marquis in this situation, so I ran away from the mansion.

Then, I closed my eyes tightly as I rode the carriage lent by the Marquis to the military platform.

It was a mentally draining day in many ways.

Drurr, rumble….

The sound of the wheels of a carriage rolling gently.

As I was using this as background music to clear my head, I quickly felt drowsy.

“brother.”

…huh?

What is this, an auditory hallucination?

“Why did you save the Marquis back then?”

At the sound of a clearly heard voice, I opened my eyes and looked out the window.

“Why do you want to be friends with the Marquis?”

Oh, surprise.

Why is this bastard here?